Efficiency is key in competitive real estate industry

SAN FRANCISCO–Home listings used to be the real estate equivalent of the "black box," said Bob Hale, president and CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors. And Realtors were the only ones who held the keys. Things have changed. There is more competition these days, and there is a more pressing need for Realtors and their associations to keep up with trends and to work more efficiently, said Hale, who spoke on a panel today at Inman News' Real Estate Connect 2004 conference in San Francisco. The panel, "The progressive Realtor association: What does it take to innovate?" included discussions ranging from new agents to industry nightmares. "The consumer often has more information in their hands than the Realtor does at their first meeting," said Hale, who leads one of the largest local associations in the nation. And the challenge is in ensuring that consumers realize the value that Realtors bring to the table, he said. The Houston association has about 18,000 members, making i...